1. Soreness or irritation of the skin caused by friction
   "The long hike led to chafing on his heels"
    
2. The act of rubbing or wearing away by friction
   "The constant chafing of the rope against the mast weakened it over time"
    
3. A state of irritation or restless discontent
   "His chafing under the new regulations was evident to everyone"

1. Cause friction
   "my sweater chafes";
   - rub, fray, fret, scratch
    
2. Tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading
   "This leash chafes the dog's neck";
   - excoriate
    
3. Become or make sore by or as if by rubbing
   "The ill-fitting shoes chafed her heels";
   - gall, fret
    
4. Warm by rubbing, as with the hands
   "He chafed his cold hands to warm them up"
    
5. Feel extreme irritation or anger
   "He was chafing at her suggestion that he stay at home while she went on a vacation"
    
6. [archaic] Cause annoyance, especially by persistent minor irritations
   "His constant interruptions chafe the entire team";
   - annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at [informal], irritate, rile, nark [Brit, slang], nettle, gravel [US], vex, devil, tick off [informal], roil [N. Amer]

Derived forms: chafings

Type of: abrade, abrase [rare], adjoin, contact, corrade, displease, experience, feel, irritate, meet, rawness, rub down, rub off, soreness, tenderness, touch, warm

Encyclopedia: Chafing